Saudi opera singer Sawsan Albahiti on performing in AlUla with Andrea Bocelli
Updated 28 January 2024
Rawaa Talass
DUBAI: Some dreams really do come true. When Saudi opera singer Sawsan Albahiti was still a university student in the UAE, she had a very particular dream about performing with the artist who inspired her the most — Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli.
“I don’t know why, but he was always wearing a blue suit and I was wearing black,” she tells Arab News.
On Jan. 26, Albahiti — dressed in black — sang Bocelli’s signature song “Time To Say Goodbye” (“Con te partiro” in Italian) with Bocelli (who wore a blue tuxedo) and Italian soprano Serena Gamberoni as the closing number of his concert at AlUla’s Maraya Theater.
Sawsan Albahiti and Andrea Bocelli backstage at the Maraya Theater on Jan. 26. (Supplied)
“To perform with the person that inspired you to do what you always dreamed of doing is, of course, the biggest deal ever,” Albahiti says. “I remember when I was studying in the UAE, whenever I went to Dubai Mall I’d go to the dancing fountains, and they would play his song with Sarah Brightman, ‘Time To Say Goodbye.’ I’d always get goosebumps and tear up. I was always so fascinated by the beauty and the magic in his voice. He made me love this whole art. I always dreamed of performing this song with him.”
Albahiti also gave a pre-show and a solo performance at the special concert, which was organized by the Royal Commission For AlUla.
Albahiti says it was typical of Bocelli to invite a local artist up on stage to perform with him, and highlights his generosity as a performer.
“Between his singing parts, he turned to me and said in Italian, ‘Prego,’ meaning ‘You are welcome here,’” she says. “There was a massive roar and a standing ovation when we finished the song.”
This wasn’t the first time that Albahiti has met Bocelli. Their first encounter took place in 2021, and it was an emotional one.
“He was so humble and kind,” she recalls. “I told him, ‘You are the reason why I went into opera. You inspired me.’ And he teared up. His story is a very inspiring one, full of challenges. On top of the physical disability of blindness, he also faced difficulty at the start of his career getting the recognition he deserved from producers and record labels. But he kept on going. He pursued his dream.”
Spike Lee to preside over Red Sea International Film Festival jury
Updated 21 November 2024
Arab News
DUBAI: Academy Award-winning filmmaker Spike Lee – known for films like “Malcom X” and “BlacKkKlansman” – will preside over the Red Sea Internation Film Festival’s Red Sea: Features Competition Jury this year.
The fourth edition of the festival will take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from Dec. 5 - 14, in Jeddah’s Old Town of Al Balad.
The Red Sea: Features competition will showcase the highest achievements from a diverse range of filmmakers from the Arab region, Asia and Africa. Sixteen features have been selected to showcase the most compelling, unique and impressive work from the past year, with the winners being selected by Lee and the rest of the jury to receive the coveted Yusr Awards.
In 2023, the Golden Yusr for Best Feature Film was awarded to “In Flames,” directed by Zarrar Khan.
Lee will also participate in the festival’s In Conversation strand, which welcomes industry luminaries from all over the world to share insights and have meaningful discussions about their practice, passions and stories.
Jomana Al Rashid, Chairwoman of the Red Sea Film Foundation, said in a statement: “Looking towards our fourth edition, we’re honoured to welcome the legendary Spike Lee as our President of Jury for the festival this year. Spike is a pioneering director whose iconic work has made a lasting impact on both film as a medium and culture at large. His energy, incisiveness and genuine championing of creativity and new voices makes him an ideal fit to lead our jury for this year - we look forward to him engaging with the burgeoning talent in our competition line up.”
Lee added: “Having been lucky enough to experience first-hand the incredible filmmaking, atmosphere and creativity at the Red Sea International Film Festival in 2022, it's a privilege to be returning this year as President of the Jury. Alongside creating a melting pot for cultures to come together in celebration of our important art-form, it's vital to continue to platform young and emerging filmmakers who are finding their voice in the industry, and it's exciting to see first-time directors from across the Arab region, Asia and Africa as part of the Competition lineup this year. I'm looking forward to diving in to the programme and making what I'm sure will be some very tough decisions alongside the leading luminaries on the jury.”
The Saudi National Orchestra and Choir’s global tour reaches Japan
Updated 21 November 2024
Shyama Krishna Kumar
DUBAI: The Saudi National Orchestra and Choir is on a mission to build a bridge between the Kingdom and the rest of the world, one musical collaboration at a time.
Having already performed its musical showcase “Marvels of Saudi Orchestra” in Paris, Mexico City, New York and London, the orchestra will perform at Tokyo Opera City on Nov. 22.
The evening’s performance will feature the Saudi National Orchestra and Choir performing alongside Japan’s Gagaku Orchestra Imperial Court Music and the Orchestra Academy of Tokyo College of Music. The collaborative program will showcase traditional Saudi pieces and classical Japanese music. Renowned Japanese guitarist Hotei will also deliver a special guest performance.
In an interview with Arab News, Saudi Music Commission CEO Paul Pacifico attributed the idea of taking the Saudi orchestra on a world tour to Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, and cited a dual purpose behind the program.
“The first opportunity is international. It’s about taking the best of Saudi culture to the world and showing the world what Saudi culture is about. Most people around the world haven’t heard Saudi music, so this is a new experience,” Pacifico said.
Maestro Hiro. (Supplied)
“The second part of this is about showing Saudi people how Saudi culture can be received worldwide, and how Saudi music can take its place on any of the world’s greatest stages with the world’s greatest cultural organizations. And really to take pride in seeing Saudi culture celebrated and validated in that way,” he added.
Composed and arranged by Saudi Arabian maestro Rami Bashih with the support of Japanese maestro Hirofumi Yoshida, the Tokyo performance is an ode to Japanese and Saudi musical traditions.
“I hope this performance will deepen the Tokyo audience’s understanding of different cultures through music and serve as a catalyst for building new cultural ties between Saudi Arabia and Japan. This concert brings together distinct musical cultures on a single stage, offering the audience a valuable experience to see music and culture from a fresh perspective,” Yoshida told Arab News.
“In the first and second parts of the program, the audience will enjoy a contrast between Saudi Arabia’s traditional music and the ancient Japanese court music, gagaku. In the third part, they will experience cultural harmony through a joint performance by musicians from both countries,” he continued.
Both the Japanese and Saudi orchestras have had to rehearse online ahead of the big day.
The 'Marvels of Saudi Orchestra' show in Paris. (Saudi Music Commission)
“The Saudi Music Commission and Japan’s Rising Sun Opera Foundation have held numerous remote meetings and organized advance visits from the Saudi side to prepare for this event in detail. We shared musical ideas online and made every effort to maximize our limited rehearsal time. Remote collaboration has been a new challenge, but by sharing a strong passion for music, we’ve been able to overcome the distance and foster meaningful cooperation,” said Yoshida.
Yoshida is no stranger to Saudi Arabia, either. In 2017, he led the first performance by a full Japanese orchestra in the Kingdom.
“I was deeply impressed by the enthusiastic applause, especially from young people, after each piece. Feeling the energy in the hall, I became certain that culture and the arts would flourish in Saudi Arabia in the near future. This experience showed me the potential for Saudi musical culture to continue growing and be shared with even more people around the world,” he said.
For Pacifico, the opportunity to take Saudi music to yet another cultural capital is exciting.
“There are so many rich collaborations in all of these cultures that we visited and hope to visit — whether that was the Carlos Chavez Orchestra in Mexico City, the Dizzy Gillespie All Stars in New York, or the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London, every time we make a stop, we look to collaborate with the best cultural ambassadors from that city. And the cities haven’t let us down,” said Pacifico. “They’ve really exceeded our expectations. And, again, in two ways: the way the musicians have blended together and the audience reaction — how welcoming people have been, how interested and culturally curious to discover Saudi music, and the feedback has been incredible.
“So much of what we do is about programs, KPIs… the technical work of government. But ‘Marvels of Saudi Orchestra’ brings it to a very human level. It’s about people connecting, and it’s that human connection that stands out to me,” he continued. “That’s what surprises and delights me each time that we’ve done this, and I’m sure will continue to do so.”
Review: ‘Cross’ is a better-than-average gritty cop drama, thanks to Aldis Hodge
Hodge stars as James Patterson’s tortured detective in new Amazon series
Updated 21 November 2024
Matt Ross
LONDON: In its admirably committed bid to monopolize the ‘gritty cop drama adapted from books you might buy for your dad’ market, Amazon has turned to James Patterson’s Washington DC-based detective (and forensic psychologist) Alex Cross to follow in the footsteps of previous hits “Reacher”, “Jack Ryan” and “Bosch.”
“Cross” (there’s a pattern here…) stars Aldis Hodge as the recently bereaved eponymous homicide detective. Assigned to investigate the murder of a prominent Black Lives Matter activist, our hero is all consummate professionalism and cerebral calmness as he attempts to unpick the increasingly sinister machinations of a deranged serial killer even as his bosses try to sweep the case under the carpet.
What makes “Cross” more interesting than a lot of airport-novel adaptations is that Alex is also working a second case, obsessed as he is with hunting the murderer of his wife, who was shot in broad daylight a little over a year earlier. And when it comes to that case, he is neither a consummate professional nor cerebrally calm.
The details of the two cases are better left unpacked here — spoiling the developments of either would be a shame — but it’s safe to say the show’s MVP is Hodge (“One Night in Miami”, “Black Adam”). The detective is, at times, more like two characters — one striving to deliver justice for his city, the other bent on nothing more than revenge and a desire to keep his family safe. And Hodge deserves plaudits for his portrayals of both sides of Cross, even as the lines between the two begin to blur and overlap across the eight-episode stretch.
In fact, Hodge is so good, that it’s easy to forgive some of the show’s more cliché-riddled missteps. A couple of plot points arrive with much fanfare, only to slink out, unresolved; Alex’s supposedly masterful analytical superpowers tend to desert him when it suits the advancement of the story… There are other niggles, too. But, with a lead this charismatic — and closer to Patterson’s original Cross than the three previous film adaptations — and a supporting cast on their game, they’re all easy enough to overlook.
Egyptian luxury label Okhtein launches Dubai store ahead of Saudi opening
Updated 21 November 2024
Hams Saleh
DUBAI: Egyptian luxury label Okhtein, which has been touted by celebrities including Beyonce, Halle Berry and Gigi Hadid, has opened its first outlet in Dubai, its first bricks-and-mortar presence in the Gulf before it expands in Saudi Arabia in 2025.
Founded by sisters Aya and Mounaz Abdel Raouf, Okhtein combines Middle Eastern artistry with global fashion appeal.
On the decision to open in Dubai, Aya told Arab News: “Dubai is the fashion hub of the Middle East, and it’s easily accessible for international clients. It’s a key city in the GCC region’s fashion scene and holds a special place for us.”
Mounaz said that Okhtein’s signature design elements, such as gold plating, crystals and Swarovski embellishments, resonate with the Gulf clientele’s preference for detailed, opulent pieces. “That ‘bling’ element is something our customers really gravitate toward,” she said.
After the opening of the Dubai store, Okhtein plans to expand further with a boutique in Riyadh’s Kingdom Mall, anticipated for early 2025. Mounaz described the Saudi market as a “natural next step.”
“The luxury market in Saudi Arabia presents a huge opportunity. It’s a large and growing market, with a clientele that is familiar with our brand. Many Saudi clients already buy from us when they visit Egypt, so we’re confident that we’ll be welcomed with open arms,” Mounaz said.
Reflecting on Okhtein’s growing international presence, Aya said: “We’re honored by the international recognition, and it drives us to push the brand even further. It’s both a happy and humbling feeling.
One standout moment for the sisters was when US model Gigi Hadid showed off Okhtein bags on social media.
“She styled three of our bags in a very cool and unexpected way. Gigi is the perfect fusion of Arab and international influences, and her styling and persona made the moment even more special for us. Seeing our bags on her was truly exciting,” Mounaz said.
The label also collaborated with French luxury brand Balmain for its spring/summer 2023 collection, creating a statement bustier created from worn-out resin.
DUBAI: US actress Kerry Washington showed off a gown by Elie Saab in Hollywood this week, while Jennifer Lopez opted for a look by Lebanese designer Zuhair Murad.
Washington and Lopez attended the 2024 Governors Awards in Los Angeles in their chosen Lebanese designs, with the former opting for an off-white gown from Saab’s Spring/ Summer 2024 Couture line and the latter showing off a beaded number from Murad’s Fall/Winter 2024 Couture collection.
Kerry Washington wore a gown from Elie Saab’s Spring/ Summer 2024 Couture line. (Getty Images)
Lopez accessorized with a Tyler Ellis bag, while Washington went for jewelry by British label Anabela Chan to complement the gem-encrusted neckline of her gown.
The songstress hit the stage in Saudi Arabia on Nov. 13 alongside Celine Dion, Halle Berry, Camila Cabello, Nancy Ajram and Amr Diab.
Jennifer Lopez opted for a look from Zuhair Murad’s Fall/Winter 2024 Couture collection. (Getty Images)
Opening the show was none other than Hollywood actress Berry wearing the same Elie Saab gown she wore when she won her first Oscar in 2002, making her the first Black woman to win the award for Best Actress.
Prior to the show, Berry was seen on the red carpet talking about how this was her first time meeting Saab in person, “That was the highlight of this trip for me to finally meet this man who I have been inextricably connected to for 22 years, and to give him a hug and tell him thank you.”
Celebrity stylist Law Roach, known for styling Hollywood A-listers like Zendaya, Anya Taylor Joy, Bella Hadid, and Celine Dion, talked to Arab News about Elie Saab’s ability to transcend eras.
“Elie Saab is one of the few couturiers whose clothes can be passed down to generations and generations and be reinterpreted.”
“Maybe someone got married in it (a dress), and maybe generations down the granddaughter of someone gets married in the same dress, it has that possibility of just being timeless and forever,” he said.
The evening was attended by more than 1,000 guests, including Egyptian actress Youssra; Italian star Monica Bellucci; British models Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Poppy Delevingne and Jourdan Dunn; supermodels Adriana Lima, Candice Swanepoel and Helena Christensen; and Arab actresses Nadine Njeim, Cyrine Abdel Nour, and Tara Emad.
